Top 7 Best Induction Cooktops in India: 2019 Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

In the recent times, induction cooktops have become a common household appliance. Many people are opting for this new cooking technology because of the below reasons. When compared to a gas stove, induction stove…

Cooks food in less time

Retains nutrients, vitamins and other essential enzymes in the food

Has the features to control or adjust the heat, at specific temperatures

More energy efficient, so less maintenance costs than the average amount you spend on LPG.

Doesn’t emit hazardous odors that can harm your health

Comes in a compact size as well, so you can carry it easily wherever you want

Much safe as it doesn’t ignite flames, so no chances of burns or fire accidents

These reasons make the induction cooktop a very good thing to invest on. But with all the options present in the market, you can easily make a wrong choice and waste your precious money.

If you don’t have what to look out for, then read our “buying guide“. It has all the information about factors like power consumption, pan detection and others.

If you haven’t got much time, simply dive into the list of Top 7 Best induction Cook tops India to pick the right one for home needs.

Prestige is among the first brands to introduce induction cooktops in India. This brand has been very popular and trustworthy and fast-growing company in kitchen appliance category. It has received several awards for its superior quality and high performance.

Among their varied induction cooktop options, PIC 20 model has grabbed first position in our list. With all the innovative features, performance, and energy efficiency, this product deserves first position. With stylish, sleek design and vibrant black color, this product becomes an exceptional addition to your smart kitchen.

This product has only one burner, so it is pretty compact and portable. You can carry it to anywhere you want like for picnics, housewarming, and other events. Though this product offers quick and consistent heating at high efficiency, it consumes only 1200Watts power.

Prestige PIC 20 comes with a unique power saving technology – which monitors the temperature of cooking utensil and adjusts the power level according to the size of the cooking utensil. The anti-magnetic wall feature of this product ensures the heat is generated only in the center, and also blocks magnetic radiation to spread into the surroundings.

The in-built automatic voltage regulator not only takes care of voltage variance but also ensure the load is taken gradually by the appliance. This ensures durability and longevity of the product. The procedure computer control ensure the power is adjusted automatically and helps in efficient cooking.

If you leave the appliance ON for a longtime, this product will automatically shut-off after sometime to avoid any food waste and dangerous situations. As the surface of the product is very flat and smooth, it is very easy to clean and maintain. Wiping with a wet or dry cloth after the device cools down is sufficient enough.

Prestige PIC 20 comes with soft feature touch buttons for adjusting the temperature and controlling other features. An in-built Indian menu is provided by the manufacturer that include pre-set functions for chapatti, curry, dosa, idli and others. You can just activate and choose the desired application using the buttons.

Prestige also has another model with similar features – PIC 15.0 Induction Cooktop. The only thing upgraded in this model is digital touch. The drawback of this products is that it consumes more power (1900 Watts).

Philips is one of the best sellers and widely accepted household brands in Indian market. Viva collection is an assortment of amazing and highly efficient products from Philips.

The HD4928/01 model of Viva collection is a sleek and stylish cooktop made of microcrystal plate. As it is compact and portable, it won’t take much of your kitchen counter space. This product is specifically designed to retain the nutrients and vitamins present in the food.

It has 1.2-meter-long cord which provides enough flexibility to move the cooktop as necessary. This cooktop comes with 6 preset menus which help you in cooking certain Indian dishes. All you have to do is add all the ingredients, place the pan on induction cooktop, select your choice and leave it. It will cook and automatically shut-off after the dish is done.

This product comes with a cool touch start which provides safer and no-flame cooking feature, preventing even minute chances of getting hurt. You can also set the cooking time to 0-3 hours and delayed for 24 hours using the timer function.

Auto-off program turns off the device to cooks the food safely without spoiling. Moreover, it consumes 2100watts power to cook the food in less time. To add on, the product is backed with 1 year of manufacturing warranty from the date of purchase.

If budget is not a constraint and if you want an upgraded model of this induction cooktop, then take a look at Philips Viva Collection HD4929. Though most of the features are similar, it has 10 preset Indian menus.

Pigeon is among popular and well-known brands in India for induction cooktops and other kitchen appliances. Though their product range have higher efficiency and performance, they do come at affordable prices.

Because of the advanced technology it saves more power and cooks the delicious food in no time. Hence, it is considered as the best electric induction cooktop for home purposes.

This wonderful device comes with 7 Indian preset menus featured in a touch panel to make you enjoy the cooking experience. It operates at 1800-2000watts power, and 50 Hz frequency for quick processing.

The lightweight and flexible design makes the cooktop easily fit in the kitchen rooms. It uses electromagnetic induction mechanism to ensure safe and comfortable cooking.

It also includes dual heat sensor technology to adjust the heat, automatic shut off feature switch off when the cooking is completed and soft touch push buttons helps to navigate for smooth and efficient functioning of the device.

The minor drawback is that the touch panel responsive is not up to the mark as it gets struck and performs inaccurate cooking operations. Manufacturer is providing 1-year warranty on this product.

Havells is one of the popular Indian origin company which has been providing kitchen and domestic appliances since many decades. Among all their products, Havells Insta has stolen our hearts with its high performance and affordable price.

The unique design of this product ensure consistent and uniform heat throughout the utensil and cooking as well. You can set the heat to low (120 W), medium and high modes (1600 W) to speed up the cooking process.

If you observe the display panel, you’ll notice 6 preset cooking menu controls like idly, dosa, curry, milk/tea, manual and fry modes that make cooking very convenient. Additionally, it ensures the water does not enter the delicate parts and thereby increases the lifespan.

This product comes with auto pan detection which alerts you to remove the cooking vessel. And it also features auto power off feature shuts off when you forget to switch off. You can set the timer to cook food and complete other chores – washing clothes, gardening, baby monitoring, etc.

Only steel utensils (that are specifically designed for induction cooktops) are suitable for cooking on this product. 1-year manufacturer warranty is provided with this product.

With high performing products, the founders of Usha International Company have earned trust and respect from customers across India and abroad. Over the recent decade, Usha has ventured into new areas (kitchen appliances) and received a great applause for its quality and affordable pricing.

The portable design of this cooktop makes easy to use and maintain for a long time. It is available in black color and the top surface is made of ceramic plate to distribute the heat evenly to the containers. The stylish and compatible design of this product easily fits into the modern kitchens and adds a great value.

This Usha induction cooktop uses 2000watts power and also operates at a voltage of 220-240 V which makes it highly efficient by cooking all types of food. this induction cooktop saves the energy by heating the utensil and not the entire ceramic plate.

It is also possible to set the timer and temperature using the push buttons on the touch panel. You can see the readings on the LED display unit and the heat indicator let you know the current heating temperature.

Bajaj is a well-known brand in India that offers top notch home and kitchen appliances like mixer grinders, microwave ovens, steam irons and much more. The one we’re discussing in this article is Bajaj Majesty Induction Cooktops.

What we like the most is the top surface is made of crystal glass and is coated with anti-insecticide gel to deter cockroaches, and ants from food spoiling. The 8 preset modes allow the user to cook different dishes.

Customize the cooking time and temperature using the timer, variable temperature selector on digital display unit. Though it consumes 1900watts power, considered as high energy efficient and has quick heating capability.

If the device found no bowl or utensil, then it will turn off automatically to ensure safety. And it only permits certain types like stainless steel pots, cookers, frying pots, and grilling plates.

Overall, the performance is too good and best to use in kitchens, hotels, food courts etc. The product is backed with 1-year warranty on the product. Get it repaired for free of cost within the specified time.

V-Guard is not a new name that we are not aware of. Since its conception in 1977, it has been providing high quality assured products to its customers. Among their varied product range, induction cooktops have also been popular.

We shall discuss V Guard VIC-15 model in detail as it has taken a place in our final list of best induction cooktops in India. This product is a combination of thoughtful engineering and intelligent design.

If you have power fluctuations regularly, then this product is the right choice. Because V Guard VIC-15 is designed to withstand low voltages (100V) and high voltages (270V). This cooktop comes with a seven segment digital display – which helps you know the current cooking status.

With an advanced timer, you can set the cooking time up to 4hrs. Once the time is complete, the cooktop will turn off automatically. It comes with 8 levels of power control which ensure that you are in complete control of the induction cooktop temperature.

It also comes with multiple pre-set cooking functions that include dosa, chapathi, idli, boiling, and slow cooking. The high grade crystalline glass can even withstand high temperatures up to 600degrees. This product is highly durable because of the copper coil used for heating.

Cleaning and maintaining this product is very easy. All you have to do is wipe with a wet/dry cloth once it cools down. This product is backed with 1-year manufacturer warranty.

How to Choose the Right Induction Cooktop?

Our buying guide for induction cooktops is an assortment of all the information required to analyze the product. It helps you choose the right one as per your requirements.

1. Size and Number of Burners

Induction stoves come in different sizes and the number of burners can range from 1 to 5. While single burner induction cooktops are mostly standalone units, those while 4 or 5 burners come in the form of built-in stove tops. A single burner induction cooktop is good enough for a small family. If you have a large family, then it is better to choose a multi-burner induction cook top, but this type of model is not very popular in India.

2. Pan Detection

This feature ensures that the induction cooktop does not work until and unless a suitable sized pan or cooking vessel is placed on the heating zone of the cooktop.

3. Auto-Shut off

The auto – off feature turns off the induction element automatically when you remove the cooking vessel. Sometimes, we may place the pan on cooktop and forget about it. In such cases, after certain amount of time, the sensors will analyze overheating and shutoff the cooktop to avoid further mess.

4. Pre-Set Cooking Time

This is an essential feature in induction stove that allows user to program the cooktop to turn off, and reduce the cooking temperature at a preset time.

5. Touch Controls

It is best to choose an induction cooktop that features touch control panel instead of control knobs. Touch control buttons are easy to operate, control and allow better cleaning.

6. Preset Menu

Preset menu option helps you to cook the delicious food easily by setting to the modes like grill, stir, boil, fry, etc. It is done quickly by adjusting the heat and power at every time you cook the food.

7. Child Lock Safety

The advanced induction cooktop model comes with child safety lock option to protect the device being misused by the children or keep the kids away from getting hurt- burns.

8. Price and Warranty

Budget plays an important role in purchasing any kitchen appliance. Before buying an induction cooktop, analyze the family size (small or large) and your budget. Based on that, analyze the products and choose the right one. Just like any other kitchen appliance, an induction cooktop should come with warranty.

What is an induction cooktop? How Does It Work?

An induction cooktop is an electronic kitchen appliance that works on the basic principle of electromagnetic field. It has a copper coil beneath the surface to create an oscillating magnetic field when current is passed through it.

Further, it heats up the cooking vessel to prepare the delicious food items. And the surface of induction cooktop stays cool to touch because the inductive heating may raise the temperature rapidly to ensure faster cooking compared to gas stoves.

What are the types of induction cooktops?

Basically, induction cooktops are available in 3 types – freestanding, slide-in and built-in. We have mentioned a detailed description of each type below in detail.

1. Freestanding Induction Cooktop

Freestanding induction gives the option to fit easily in between the counters. Like other cooktops types, it is also available in different colors and sizes. Also, it is very easy to install, use and clean at regular intervals. They come with electric oven to provide additional support and also increase the flexibility and cooking methods.

2. Built-in Cooktops

Built-in electric cooktops are made of glass materials and is available in flat structures. They come in sleek design and easily fit in the kitchen space. Moreover, they are available in multiple colors – blue, grey, black and white. They have smart features like timers, auto-off, child lock, pan detection and much more options.

3. Portable and Compact Cooktops

These are the most popular cooktops in India and best suits for individuals, couples and small family members. You can easily carry the units and start cooking at your desired location (comfortable place). For this reason, it has become the best induction cooktop model of all time usage.

What makes induction cooktops innovative and better functional?

Though gas stoves are pretty simple to use and operate, as per many researches, cooking on direct flame has shown to reduce nutrient and mineral content in the food. But Induction cooktops seal the nutrition in the food making.

And another factor is – an induction cooktop produces heat instantly as you switch it on, and the heat also disappears instantly as soon as you switch it off. The heat generated by the induction cooktop is produced only in the space occupied by the utensil. The rest of the cooktop will be safe to touch. This is because of the sensors present in it.

When you leave the pan on working induction cooktop for a long time and forget it, the sensors can sense it and shutoff the power quickly. This not only avoid food burning but also save any energy as well.

Most Important Benefits of Induction Cooktops

Comes at affordable price range.

Energy efficient induction cooktops. Induction cooktops transmit the heat very quickly to the utensils, which ensures no loss of heat.

Induction cooktops are spill proof, easy to clean and maintain.

Cooks food faster than gas stoves and other cooking methods.

Induction cooktops do not use gas, so there is less chance of burns or fire accidents.

Lightweight design makes easy to shift from one location to another.

Offers more precise temperature control while cooking different recipes.

They come in different sizes and numbers of burners to match with the home requirements.

The surface of cooktop stays cool to touch while cooking and turns off automatically once you remove the vessel to save energy.

Drawbacks of Induction Cooktops

Proper installation is required.

You may experience some noise while operating at high temperatures.

Make sure the utensil (made of – stainless steel or cast iron) used for cooking supports the induction cooking. Not all utensils are designed to work on induction. Utensils that support induction are specially designed, so that the sensors can sense them.

Induction Cooktop Vs Gas Stove – Which One is Better?

Induction Cooktops

Gas Cooktops

It works on the principle of electromagnetic friction.

It uses LPG (natural resource) to produce flames on which food is cooked.

The functionalities can be controlled by digital touch medium.

The flame (medium, low, high) is controlled though knobs

They are much energy efficient and considered as environmental friendly.

Consumes a lot of energy. As LPG is a made from natural resources, it is not eco-friendly.

Much easy to clean and maintain.

A bit difficult to clean, as you have to clean drip trays, utensils holders and stove as well.

Cooks food much faster.

A bit more time consuming than induction cooktops.

Retains more amount of nutrients and other essential enzymes.

Doesn’t help in retaining the essential nutrients and other elements in the food.

Only special magnetic insulated cookware has to be used.

Any utensil can be used for cooking.

Much safer as they don’t emit flames. And don’t heat the surface until a cooking utensil is placed.

Gas cooktops are known to have a lot of hazards like gas leakage, burns and others.

To conclude, induction cooktop models are more proficient than gas stove models because of the versatile functionality and flexibility to work in different conditions. Further, it saves power and comes at reasonable prices to match with the home and kitchen requirements.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Does induction stove cook food faster than gas stove?

When compared to gas stoves, induction stove cook much faster. As they transfer the heat directly to the utensil, there is no chance of heat loss. But in gas stoves, the loss of heat is more. Thus takes time to heat the utensil and food in it. Some of the induction cooktops with advanced technology have anti-magnetic walls. This feature ensures dissipation of magnetic energy.

2. What is the most significant disadvantage of buying a cooktop?

It is not possible to use all types of utensils for cooking on the induction stove. They should be made of steel or iron, and also they have a flat bottom. It is not recommended to use copper based utensils.

3. Is it really possible to save time and money with induction cooktops?

All the induction cooktops come with pre-set timers. You can set the timing for each cooking dish. So you don’t have to supervise the cooking. This helps to concentrate on multiple tasks at the same time, saving lots of time. And moreover, it helps you save money as well because it more energy efficient than gas stoves.

4. How much power does an induction cooktop consume?

Portable induction cooktops deliver a maximum of 2100watts power and the other basic cooktops ranges from 1500-1700 watts. On a comparison note, low power cooktops are designed to provide long lasting performance just like the high-end models. And the one that are introduced now offers proficient heating and hence considered as the best energy savers.

5. What are the best induction cooktop brands available in market?

There are several brands that provide induction stoves in India. Some of the common household brands and popular brands include… Usha Prestige Philips Preethi Havells Pigeon

6. Are induction cooktops eco-friendly?

Yes, induction cooktops are considered environmental friendly as they don’t use any natural resources like petroleum fuels. And moreover, it doesn’t emit any harmful gases.

7. How much energy efficient are induction cooktops?

Few studies have been conducted by US Department of Energy to test the induction for energy efficiency. As per their reports, induction cooktops are 84% energy efficient, while electric stoves are 74% and gas stoves are 40% energy efficient. (Source)

8. Why only steel or iron utensils can be used on induction cooktops?

Only steel and iron utensils can be used for cooking on induction cookers because the principle of electro-magnetic induction only works for these two materials. Other materials like aluminum are not compatible to this principle.

9. Is the food cooked on induction stove safe and healthy to consume?

When compared to LPG and electric cooking, dishes made using induction cooktop are more safe and healthy. Unlike other cooking methods, these cooktops prevent the loss of nutrients, vitamins and other essential enzymes.

10. Are there any restrictions of food ingredients to avoid while cooking on induction stove?

No, there are no restrictions. All kinds of food produce can be used for cooking.

11. What kind of platform is better for placing induction cooktop?

Induction cooktops can be placed on any kind of platform (be it wood or granite). However, make sure the platform is stable enough and straight to avoid slipping of utensils.

12. Are induction cooktops expensive to purchase?

Induction cooktops are a bit expensive than convectional gas stoves and kitchen hobs. It is mainly because they function using the electromagnetic induction and saves the cooking time. So, when you wish to buy induction cooktop, look for a model that is within your budget range and best matches with the cooking requirements. If you do not like to invest more, then you can go with the basic models. Furthermore, you should also check whether the manufacturer is offering warranty services or not. Most of the models in the list are covered with 1-year warranty which further minimizes the repairing costs.

13. What type of kitchen cookware are not suitable for induction cooktops?

Utensils or cookware that have concave, convex, and aluminum, copper compound base pots are not suitable for induction cooktops. And utensils that have diameter less than 12cm and pot feet higher than 5mm are not suitable as well.

14. How should we clean the induction cooktop?

Just like gas stoves, cleaning procedure of induction cooktop is even more simple and easy. All you need is just wet cotton cloth. Once you switch off the cooktop, give few minutes to let it cool down. Now, wipe the cloth on the surface of cooktop and you are done.

15. Can you touch an induction stove while in use?

As induction stove only heats the area occupied by the cooking utensil, the rest of the area is safe to touch. Moreover, even if sauce gets splatter on the cooking surface, it doesn’t burn. This makes it easy to clean as well.

16. Does an induction cooktop consume a lot of electricity?

No, it doesn’t consume much. Though induction cooktops use electricity, it is the magnetic principle to directly heats the utensil. And moreover, it distributes the heat more evenly throughout the utensil. This helps in avoiding heat loss and reduces the cooking time. So, it is more energy efficient than any other cooking method.

Few Words to Conclude…

With busy schedules, Induction Cooktops have become an option to save time and money as well. And moreover, they are more energy efficient and safe when compared gas stoves.

If you are not aware of the factors to consider while purchasing an induction cooktop, then read our buying guide. We hope it clarifies your questions and helps you take an informed choice.

Philips Induction Cooktop is our top pick from the list of best cooktops in India. It consumes 2100watts power and comes with 10 preset menu options to cook the food you desire. Furthermore, the product is backed with 1year warranty so that the user can visit the nearest service center to replace with new spare parts and thereby reduces the repairing costs.

Still, if you are confused in choosing the right induction cooktop for homes, read the buying guide mentioned in the article. If you have any doubts or questions regarding induction cooktops, share with us in the comment section. We’ll clarify them as soon as possible.